JANE N. SLATER

508-645-3378

(slaterjn@comcast.net)

The big sleep is over. Now the race begins . . . can we get all the spring chores done in time? The pressure is on all the caretakers, gardeners, fishermen and farmers . . . all with deadlines to meet. It is our unique New England lifestyle and we seem to meet the challenge every year.

Steve Broderick is back from a March trip to Hawaii to visit his son. The trip started with a drive across the country to California where he put the truck on a boat. He and his son enjoyed meeting the boat in Hawaii and retrieving the truck. How is that for Island to Island?

Heather Sussman is back at her State Road home after spending the winter months in Palm Springs, Calif. While there she did some hiking and sightseeing and enjoyed the outdoor life. Fellow Chilmarker and artist Dawn Greeley shared the California visit with Heather and she spent her time painting. She will be back in town after a brief visit to Chicago.

We all send happy birthday greetings to Capt. Jim Morgan whose family and friends helped him celebrate on the weekend.

There are some interesting and tempting signs of things to buy on roadside signs in Chilmark this spring. We have local pork for sale on the North Road and grass-fed lamb for sale on the South Road and eggs are offered at more than one location. It makes riding around town interesting and potentially tasty.

Chilmark Library will celebrate National Poetry Month with a program on Wednesday, April 9. Popular Chilmark poets Peggy Freydberg, John Maloney and Donald Nitchie will read from their works. The public is invited. Admission is free. The hour-long program begins at 5:30 p.m.

The library will host the April meeting of the Sustainable Book Club on April 24 at the library from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. They will discuss the book Strange as This Weather Has Been by Ann Pancake. Please call the library at 508-645-3360 for more information.

Our usually bashful neighbors, the deer, are out in force these days. Do keep an eye out during those sunrise and sunset hours when they seem to enjoy crossing our roads.

The Chilmark Community Church will host the Men’s Fellowship Breakfast at the church on Saturday, April 5, at 8:30 a.m. The topic for discussion will be drag fishing. All are welcome. Please call 508-693-0589 or 508-645-3012 for more information.